Terence Atmane faced a challenging quarterfinal match against Miomir Kecmanovic at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, ultimately succumbing to a 6-3, 6-3 defeat that was marred by a controversial point penalty. The match unfolded dramatically on Thursday night, with the French player struggling to maintain his composure amid mounting pressure.
Atmane’s first setback came with a time violation in the second set, but the situation escalated during a critical moment. Serving as the returner while down match point, he received a second infraction, which cost him the point and sealed his fate in the match. As per the rules, if he was serving, he would have lost merely the first serve; however, since he was returning, the infraction meant an immediate loss of the point.
The chair umpire became the target of Atmane’s frustration after the initial violation. “Relax; give me five seconds, okay,” he implored, expressing his need for a brief moment to collect himself.
His physical state seemed to worsen during the match, as he conveyed to the trainer, “I’m sweating like I’ve never sweated in my life. I’m shaking. I’m cold, I’m hot, I can’t breathe. It’s a joke.” Unfortunately for Atmane, these issues compounded his difficulties on the court, enabling Kecmanovic to advance with relative ease.
Kecmanovic will now prepare for a semifinal showdown against Flavio Cobolli, looking to secure his place in the final of this prestigious tournament.
